Drop leaf tables



July 25, 1967 L. RUIZ 3,332,373

DROP LEAF TABLES Filed Aug. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l .nll w N INVENTORL eon Ru i z ATTORNEY July 25, 1967 u z 3,332,373

DROP LEAF TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1966 Leon Ruiz ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,332,373 DROP LEAF TABLES Leon Ruiz, 801 BaratariaBlvd., Mari-ere, La. 70072 Filed Aug. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 571,456 2Claims. (Cl. 10877) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprisesthe combination in a drop leaf table or the like, a table top having avertical support extending downwardly from one side edge thereof, a dropleaf hingedly connected to said one side edge of said top for raisingand lowering movement, and self-acting means responsive to raising ofsaid top for releasably sustaining the same in its raised position, saidself-acting sustaining means comprising an abutment block having firstand second edges at right angles to each other, and hinge means providedat the first edge of the block in parallel therewith and mounting theblock at the underside of said drop leaf with the axis of the hingemeans normal to said one side edge of the top, said block having aninoperative position wherein it is laterally juxtaposed to the undersideof the drop leaf in the lowered position of the latter but beingswingable downwardly by gravity toward an operative position when thedrop leaf is raised, said second edge of the block in its operativeposition abuttingly engaging said vertical support whereby to sustainthe drop leaf in its raised position, said hinge means being located atone side of said first edge of said block so that the block when swungdownwardly by gravity is disposed obliquely to the underside of saiddrop leaf, and means operative upon oblique disposition of the block forbiasing the same to a perpendicular operative position relative to theunderside of the drop leaf, said last mentioned means comprisingmagnetically cooperating means provided in the under: side of the dropleaf and in said first edge of said block.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in drop leaftables, or the like, wherein a drop leaf is hingedly connected to oneside edge of the table top for raising and lowering movement and whereinmeans are provided for releasably sustaining the drop leaf in its raisedposition.

In conventional practice such sustaining means usually are in the formof slidable, swingable, collapsible or otherwise adjustable supportswhich require to be manually set or adjusted in order to sustain thedrop leaf when the latter is raised. This not only necessitates aseparate manual procedure in addition to the raising of the drop leafitself, but in some instances the drop leaf is not firmly or adequatelysustained when the manual setting or adjustment of the supporting meanshas not been properly made.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to avoid thedisadvantages above outlined by providing improved drop leaf sustainingmeans which are self-acting and become operative automatically duringmovement of the drop leaf to its raised position, so that the drop leafin that position is firmly and properly sustained.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved drop leafsustaining means which may be quickly and easily moved to an inoperativeposition when the drop leaf is to be lowered.

The device of the invention is very simple in construction, dependablein operation, suitable for use with drop leaf tables of many differentsizes and types, and adaptable to convenient and very economicalmanufacture.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention will be understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereinlike characters of reference are used to designate like parts, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the underside of onecorner portion of a drop leaf table embodying the drop leaf sustainingdevice of the invention, the drop leaf being shown in its raisedposition;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to the cross-sectionof FIG. 2, but showing the sustaining block in a position to which it islowered by gravity;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to that in FIG. 3,but showing the sustaining block in position for lowering of the dropleaf;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken in the direction ofthe arrow 5 in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken in the direction ofthe arrow 6 in FIG. 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to that in FIG. 6,but showing the drop leaf in its lowered position; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 8-8 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the generalreference numeral 10 designates a drop leaf table including a table top11 supported by a plurality of vertical legs, one of which is shown at12.

A drop leaf 13 is hingedly' connected to one side edge 11a of the tabletop 11 for raising and lowering movement of the drop leaf, as forexample by a plurality of hinges one of which is shown at 14. As shown,the leg 12 has an outer surface 12a coplanar or flush with the side edge11a of the top 11, the leg surface 12a providing vertical support meansfor abutment by a drop leaf sustaining block 15 of the invention, aswill be presently explained.

The drop leaf sustaining or abutment block 15 is configuredsubstantially as shown and is provided with a pair of edges 16, 17, atright angles to each other. A hinge 18 has one leaf thereof secured bysuitable screws 19 to one side of the block 15, the hinge being locatedat the edg 16 of the block and having its other leaf secured by thescrews 20 to the underside of the drop leaf 13, so that in the raisedposition of the drop leaf as shown in FIG. 1, the axis of the hinge isnormal to the side edge 11a of the table topll, while being parallel tothe edges 16 of the block 15. It will be also observed that the side1511 of the block to which the hinge is fastened is substantiallycoplanar with the side surface 12b of the table leg 12, when the blockis in the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

As already stated, FIG. 1 shows the table with the drop leaf in itsraised position, and when the drop leaf is to be lowered, the block 15is manually swung or turned about the hinge 18 in the direction of thearrow 21 in FIG. 2, so that it assumes the position shown in FIG. 4wherein the block 15 is juxtaposed to the underside of the drop leaf 13and is clear of the table leg 12. While holding the block 15 in thisposition, the drop leaf may be lowered in the customary manner to theposition shown in FIG. 7, wherein the block 15 is unobtrusivelyaccommodated in a folded position behind the drop leaf and at one sideof the leg 12.

When the drop leaf 13 is manually raised from the lowered position shownin FIG. 7 to the raised position as for example in FIG. 1, the block 15is automatically lowered by gravity, which causes the block to swingdownwardly about the hinge 18 to the approximate position shown in FIG.3 wherein the block is disposed obliquely to the underside of the dropleaf 13. The block assumes this oblique position inasmuch as its centerof gravity is offset by location of the hinge 18 at one side of theblock,

3 but nevertheless, it will be noted that even in the oblique positionof FIG. 3, the block is so disposed that the edge 17 thereof overlapsthe outer surface 12a of the leg 12 and the block thus effectivelyprevents the rais d drop leaf 13 from becoming lowered.

However, means are provided for automatically biasing the block 15 to aperpendicular, fully operative position under the drop leaf, once theblock has assumed the oblique position under influence of gravity. Thesemeans comprise a permanent magnet 22 which is embedded, adhesively orotherwise, in the underside of the drop leaf 13 and cooperates with ametal strip or bar 23 embedded in the edge 16 of the block 15, so thatwhen the block is in its oblique position shown in FIG. 3, it isautomatically drawn by the magnetic attraction of the strip 23 to themagnet 22 and, as a result, the block 15 asssumes the perpendicularposition at the underside of the drop leaf, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Inthat position the edge or surface 17 of the block 15 abuttingly engagesthe outer surface 12a of the leg 12, thus firmly and dependablysustaining the drop leaf in its raised position, as will be clearlyapparent. If desired, the metal strip 23 may also be magnetized, so asto more forcibly cooperate with the magnet 22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the drop leaf is raisedfrom its lowered position, the block 15 will first swing downwardlyabout its hinge by gravity to the oblique position of FIG. 3, in whichthe relatively close proximity of the magnet 22 to the metal bar 23 willswing the block 15 further to its perpendicular position of FIG. 2 bymagnetic attraction, thus bringing the block to its fully operativeposition with its edge 17 in abutment with the leg surface 12a toproperly sustain the drop leaf in its raised, horizontal plane.

As already stated, the drop leaf may be readily lowered by simplymanually swinging the block 15 to the position of FIG. 4 wherein theblock clears the leg 12 and thus permits the drop leaf to be lowered.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferredembodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparentto those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly,it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and variousmodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a drop leaf table or the like, the combination of a table tophaving a vertical support extending downwardly from one side edgethereof, a drop leaf hingedly connected to said one side edge of saidtop for raising and lowering movement, and self-acting means responsiveto raising of said top for releasably sustaining the same in its raisedposition, said self-acting sustaining means comprising an abutment blockhaving first and second edges at right angles to each other, and hingemeans provided at the first edge of the block in parallel therewith andmounting the block at the underside of said drop leaf with the axis ofthe hinge means normal to said one side edge of the top, said blockhaving an inoperative position wherein it is laterally juxtaposed to theunderside of the drop leaf in the lowered position of the latter butbeing swingable downwardly by gravity toward an operative position whenthe drop leaf is raised, said second edge of the block in its operativeposition abuttingly engaging said vertical support whereby to sustainthe drop leaf in its raised position, said hinge means being located atone side of said first edge of said block so that the block when swungdownwardly by gravity is disposed obliquely to the underside of saiddrop leaf, and means operative upon oblique disposition of the block forbiasing the same to a perpendicular operative position relative to theunderside of the drop leaf, said last mentioned means comprisingmagnetically cooperating means provided in the underside of the dropleaf and in said first edge of said block.

2. In a drop leaf table or the like, the combination of a table tophaving a vertical support extending downwardly from one side edgethereof, a drop leaf hingedly connected to said one side edge of saidtop for raising and lowering movement, and self-acting means responsiveto raising of said top for releasably sustaining the same in its raisedposition, said self-acting sustaining means comprising an abutment blockhaving first and second edges at right angles to each other, and hingemeans provided at the first edge of the block in parallel therewith andmounting the block at the underside of said drop leaf with the axis ofthe hinge means normal to said one side edge of the top, said blockhaving an inoperative position wherein it is laterally juxtaposed to theunderside of the drop leaf in the lowered position of the latter butbeing swingable downwardly by gravity toward an operative position whenthe drop leaf is raised, said second edge of the block in its operativeposition abuttingly engaging said vertical support whereby to sustainthe drop leaf in its raised position, said vertical support of saidtable top having an outer surface and a side surface, the outer surfaceof said support being flush with said one side edge of said top andbeing engageable by said second edge of said abutment block when thelatter is in its operative position, said block having a side surfacesubstantially coplanar with the side surface of the support in theoperative position of the block, and said hinge means being located onsaid side surface at said first edge of the block, whereby the block inits inoperative position may be juxtaposed to the side surface of saidsupport when said drop leaf is lowered, the location of said hinge meanson said side surface of said block causing the block to be disposedobliquely to the underside of the drop leaf when the block is swungdownwardly by gravity, and means operative upon oblique disposition ofthe block for biasing the same to a perpendicular operative positionrelative to the underside of the drop leaf, said last mentioned meanscomprising magnetically cooperating means provided in the underside ofthe drop leaf and in said first edge of said block.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 334,977 1/1886 Peace 108-781,720,123 7/1929 Goodrich 108-134 1,900,760 3/1933 Pendleton 108-1342,203,580 6/ 1940 Ronning 248-206 2,288,688 7/ 1942 Dubilier 248-2062,519,435 8/1950 Byrd 248-206 2,742,250 4/ 1956 Cronberger 248-2063,285,206 11/1966 Hoffman 108-134 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A DROP LEAF TABE OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF A TABLE TOPHAVING A VERTICAL SUPPORT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE EDGETHEREOF, A DROP LEAF HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAIDTOP FOR RAISING AND LOWERING MOVEMENT, AND SELF-ACTING MEANS RESPONSIVETO RAISING OF SAID TOP FOR RELEASABLY SUSTAINING THE SAME IN ITS RAISEDPOSITION, SAID SELF-ACTING SUSTAINING MEANS COMPRISING AN ABUTMENT BLOCKHAVING FIRST AND SECOND EDGES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, AND HINGEMEANS PROVIDED AT THE FIRST EDGE OF THE BLOCK IN PARALLEL THEREWITH ANDMOUNTING THE BLOCK AT THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DROP LEAF WITH THE AXIS OFTHE HINGE MEANS NORMAL TO SAID ONE SIDE EDGE OF THE TOP, SAID BLOCKHAVING AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN IT IS LATERALLY JUXTAPOSED TO THEUNDERSIDE OF THE DROP LEAF IN LOWERED POSITION OF THE LATTER BUT BEINGSWINGABLE DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY TOWARD AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THEDROP LEAF IS RAISED, SAID SECOND EDGE OF THE BLOCK IN ITS OPERATIVEPOSITION ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT WHEREBY TO SUSTAINTHE DROP LEAF IN ITS RAISED POSITION, SAID HINGE MEANS BEING LOCATED ATONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST EDGE OF SAID BLOCK SO THAT THE BLOCK WHEN SWUNGDOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY IS DISPOSED OBLIQUELY TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAIDDROP LEAF, AND MEANS OPERATIVE UPON OBLIQUE DISPOSITION OF THE BLOCK FORBIASING THE SAME TO A PERPENDICULAR OPERATIVE POSITION RELATIVE TO THEUNDERSIDE OF THE DROP LEAF, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISINGMAGNETICALLY COOPERATING MEANS PROVIDED IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DROPLEAF AND IN SAID FIRST EDGE OF SAID BLOCK.